Posted - 10/04/2009 : 07:43:04 AM Rhinebeck is almost among us! (For those whose festival-speak is rusty, "Rhinebeck" is code word for the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, which takes place October 17-18 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.)

Who's going?

Rhinebeck is my favorite festival of the year, and this year is particularly sentimental because it marks the public debut of my next book, The Knitter's Book of Wool. I'll be at the Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth (that's our own Jennifer Heverly, who also has a design and yarn in the book) on SATURDAY from 1-3pm. Her booth is in Building A, Spot 4. So if you're there on Saturday, please oh please come by and say hello.

What's that you say? You're only going on Sunday? That's ok, because I'll also be in the author's tent from 10am-3pm on SUNDAY signing books and fondling wool. Please do come by and say hi and keep me company so I'm not forced to sit there all alone with a forlorn wallflowery expression on my face...

My second announcement here is that our friend Linda Cortright, editor of Wild Fibers Magazine, needs your help. Apparently people have pledged 2,000 rows on The World's Longest Scarf, and she needs to get those rows KNIT during the festival. We can knit 2,000 rows, can't we?

Which is why I ask, beg, and urge you to stop by the International Tent, sit down, and knit a few rows on that scarf. It's a fantastic cause and a great way to make your mark on something important. If we have enough volunteers we can even have our own Knitter's Review table. But at a minimum, please remember to stop by the International Tent and knit some rows on that gigantic scarf.

Thank you!

ClaraYour friendly Knitter's Review publisher

19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)

Lanea

Posted - 10/26/2009 : 05:51:55 AM I had a wonderful time at Rhinebeck, helping Jennifer at the Spirit Trail booth with Martha, Shelia, and Beth. We finished setting up the booth nice and early on Friday, so we got to wander around Rhinebeck town and have a nice leisurely lunch and dinner.

Saturday at the festival was an absolute madhouse! It was wonderful to see so many friends from KR, particularly during Clara and Amy's signings, and also to see people shopping and having a great time at the festival during a lean year.

We were fortunate enough to attend the Wild Fibers dinner on Saturday. Since 2009 is the International Year of Natural Fibres (http://www.naturalfibres2009.org/), the Wild Fibers tent and dinner even more intriguing and enjoyable. I'm proud to say Team Spirit Trail managed to sit with the Quiviuk folks and not get any drool on their handknits OR take them hostage and demand fiber and yarn as ransom.

Lodging was a bit of an adventure . . . You tell one Ranger that people get shocked when they touch the faucet set-up in the showers and, pow, they cut off the electricity to the campground and lock the bathhouse. So, an unheated cabin with no electricity for the space heaters and no access to hot water or bathrooms on Saturday night convinced us to move to a hotel Sunday.

Sunday at the festival was a bit slower, so that's when we all took nice long breaks to explore the other vendors' booths. I decided to focus on knitting accessories this year, since I think my yarn and fiber stash are bounteous. I took home some absolutely gorgeous buttons from your shop, Sheila E, and Jennifer and I have already started mulling over ideas for yarns that will suit my new glass buttons. I also snagged some lovely little handmade ceramic buttons from Melissa Jean (http://www.melissajean.net/). I did pick up some laceweight and some sock yarn from Spirit Trail, because I just cannot hang yarn and talk to shoppers about yarn and talk about matching yarn to patterns without developing a loving relationship with a few skeins.

Posted - 10/23/2009 : 08:28:32 AM Thanks Clara for the great review....our 15 minutes of fame! Who knew?It was great getting to spend a few minutes chatting!My hope is that you enjoy your needles more than you could have imagined!I am looking forward to next years NY Sheep and Wool/Rhinebeck....Already!!

Posted - 10/19/2009 : 05:16:27 AM Report: I spent two days and it was really nice, a little less crowded than usual because of the weather. Saturday was ok, no precipitation, but then Sunday got yucky & wet. It was cold enough that the fair became a wonderful fashion show: everyone was wearing great handknits, lots of nice hats, scarves, and Maine Morning Mitts! My DD and I put in some rows on the worlds longest scarf, and we got Clara's lovely new book---signed, (thanks Clara!). Shopping: I got some linen and some hemp, a lucet, which is a cool wooden tool that makes sort of square icord, some lavender to make sachets, a hiya hiya needle I needed--happy to report it is working well and cost a lot less than an addi, and two kits for my DD for Christmas: one, a learn-to-spin kit with a drop spindle, and the other a felting kit with colored balls of roving for her to play with. All this, and I suspect that my DH got me a couple of other signed books for Christmas. This was our 18th festival! I come away, as always, admiring the hard working folks who travel so far and work so hard in their booths all day.It can't be an easy life. And the food vendors work like crazy, too. I sure hope they all are resting today! Ellen

minh

Posted - 10/18/2009 : 6:57:34 PM So, how was it?!? Stories and pictures for those of us who didn't get to go, please!

aviva

Posted - 10/15/2009 : 6:41:13 PM It will be my first festival. Do the vendors take credit card? Personal checks? Just cash?

LynnM

Posted - 10/09/2009 : 11:23:42 AM I'll be there on Sunday, and will definitely swing by.

Shelia

Posted - 10/09/2009 : 07:59:42 AM Oh, Jane, it will be great to see you! If you come be Spirit Trail on Saturday or Sunday I'll try to see if there is enough help so that I can sneak away for a little while and walk around with you, okay?

Posted - 10/07/2009 : 3:16:39 PM I'm coming over from London, England and will be there both days. I'm very excited to be coming to Rhinebeck for the first time and will be delighted to help on the scarf!

Posted - 10/07/2009 : 2:21:55 PM I'll be there both days so I look forward to Clara & KBOW. And my daughter and I will knit some of that scarf! Ellen

Chayah

Posted - 10/07/2009 : 07:44:00 AM I will try to be there on Sunday and put in some knitting time!

"Each breath really is a new beginning of the rest of our lives." Jon Kabat-Zinn

knitree

Posted - 10/06/2009 : 6:55:11 PM I'll be... hosting my daughter's 11th birthday party (boo hoo). She and a friend are sharing a party this year (half the expense, twice the fun), and it didn't register that it is the same weekend until too late. Have fun everyone!

TreeTaking simple patterns and complicating them...

Cecioboe

Posted - 10/05/2009 : 11:30:14 AM I will be there Saturday for the first time ever :-) with my octogenarian Mom in tow. We will do our best to stop in and say hi, and hopefully knit a few rows on the scarf. This, of course all depends on how she is doing...